to: all

[techmaturgy]

[There are two sets of handwriting here–one careful, deliberate, the other slightly hastier. Still the message is fairly coordinated, and it’s not hard to imagine that the two people willing these words into existence are probably doing so from the same place (because they are).]

Hello everyone, I hope you're all having a good day. My name is Jayce Talis and I have a business in Cadens with my partner Viktor. We're inventors and scientists back home, and we've adjusted to life here creating a variety of objects that might be of interest to people. I'm a blacksmith so primarily my work involves blades, tools, both regular ones and multi-tools, shields, canes, and collapsible versions of everything I make as a family expertise.

[Viktor, for his part, is a bit more to-the-point.]

We’re also in the business of custom projects. Given an idea, I’m reasonably certain we would be able to bring almost anything from concept to completion. Within reason, of course–we’re still working under certain technological limitations, but if a particular tool or device is of interest to you, it’s worth describing to us. We’ll see what we can do.

We wanted to let people in Cadens know that you can come to us and request what you're looking for. We give 15% off everything for the Summoned, but if you're new to the area and can't pay, you can consider anything on loan until you can save up. No hurry, we know it's hard to get started. Unfortunately we're not 100% sure if they'll let us ship these things to the other locations right now, but if that changes we'll let you know. Sorry.

Something that’s also of interest to us is the general working conditions of the mines in Cadens. We have a few ideas for basic improvements and increased safety, but any work we do will require the removal of outdated equipment. Unsurprisingly, the government is not necessarily keen on funding such an endeavor.

So what we're hoping for are volunteers in Cadens who are willing to do some heavy lifting with us to get the dangerous old machinery out of there. It is a volunteer situation although we'd be happy to make you something in thanks.

If there is interest, Jayce and I plan to extend an invitation to our domain, to exchange notes. A meeting of the minds, of sorts, for those of us who are more scientifically-inclined.

We'd really love to pick the minds of fellow scientists, inventors, or tech experts from all locations.

Thank you for your time!

Comments

[industries]

> In MY defense, so were you.

[techmaturgy]

Okay? What are you getting at?

private

[industries]

ts@Abraxas-Proxy:~$ open reply -private
> Since you're gonna play dumb, let's re-hash:
> You went AWOL and only bothered to reach out when it was about, specifically, my ex-co-worker
> who was a skin-and-bones asthmatic with like twenty congenital diseases
> until he got cured of everything, plus bonus supersoldier perks, with the help of my dad's technology.
> Feel like that's a big red flag coming from a guy with, say
> twenty congenital diseases
>
> who is dying

1/2

[techmaturgy]

what

1/3 i lied

[techmaturgy]

Tony,

[techmaturgy]

Am I supposed to understand anything of what you just said? I do not.

[industries]

> Did
>
> wait did he not mention
>
>
> Hm.

[techmaturgy]

All he told me was that he was part of a government attempt to produce a "super soldier", not the means by which it happened. This is the first I've heard of your father's work.

[Physiological augmentation!! You were holding out on him!!!]

If what you're saying is true, it explains why he was so forthcoming with the information. Perhaps he felt a certain kinship, though I wasn't sure what he meant at the time. Given no additional context, I thought the implication was slightly insulting.

[He's hot! And buff! He looks like he's never been sick in his life!!! How can Steve possibly hashtag relate!!!]

[industries]

> I figured he'd probably told you from the way you were asking about
>
> Okay, whatever.
> Short version:
> There were two components to the augmentation process – intravenous serum, and concentrated nitramenous radiation. My dad contributed the latter.
> Before you get excited – the guy who invented the serum was assassinated on the spot, and people have been trying to replicate his work for, oh, I dunno, a hundred years? My father eventually managed to develop a new formula, but
>
>
> Turns out it was still unsafe for mass distribution.
>
> Anyway,
> I hear there's a newer formula ahead of me in the timeline, but I'd have to talk with Sam Wilson to get the details. As far as I know, Captain Rogers is one in a million.
>
> Scientifically speaking.

[techmaturgy]

No, I was unaware. I would not even begin to conceive of such a method.

[Kind of a lie. He's looking into physiological augmentation, just, a different way to go about it.]

Is your concern that I would try to replicate this? Are you trying to offer it to me as something that's worthwhile to explore? If we're going to have a conversation about my health, we might as well get it over with.

[industries]

> Yeah, it'd be so unlike you.
>
>
> My concern is that you'd try something dumb, because you see no other option.

[techmaturgy]

I'm a mathematician. A physicist. Biology is not my area of expertise, to say nothing of human augmentation.

[Never mind the fact that Tony has seen the plans for the Hexcore and that thing is. Not physics.]

I'm going to do what I have to. I haven't seen you offer any suggestions, unless this is your way of doing so.

[industries]

> It isn't a suggestion, it's a cautionary tale.
>
> Listen
> One of those guys who tried replicating it? Friend of mine. Smart. Like, me-level smart.
> Juiced himself up for science thinking he had it all figured out, and
> he wrecked his life.
> As in
> we-co-invented-and-then-subsequently-launched-a-satellite-into-space-as-a-necessary-civilian-damage-control-for-when-he-loses-his-mind kind of wrecked-his-life.
> So yeah, I'd like to pursue some, uh. Non-dying options for you
> but let's try to avoid the Steve Rogers route
> just saying.

[techmaturgy]

[This!!! Is stupid!!!!]

Is that what you think I'm going to do to myself? I don't want power, or strength, or whatever superhuman abilities this serum (which, I must remind you, I only just learned of) gave to Steve. I just want to live.

1/2

[industries]

>
> I know.

2/2

[industries]

> How much time do you have?

[techmaturgy]

A few months. A year, optimistically.

That was six months ago. Jayce and I are employing various stop-gap methods, for the time being.

[industries]

> Yeah, kinda figured you were dying, from the whole
> you changing the subject every time I said you look like you're dying.
> Also, your boyfriend's general
> intense anxiety.
>
>
> So, it's respiratory. Obviously. Viral? Bacterial?
> Something else?

[techmaturgy]

Jayce is, generally speaking, intensely anxious. In this and other things.

It's a degenerative condition brought about by prolonged chemical exposure over many years. I'm not contagious.

[industries]

> Really? Hadn't noticed.

[ 6'4" pot, meet 5'8" kettle. ]

> I mean, I assumed it wasn't airborne
> or, like, any-other-kind-of-borne, considering
>
> So,
> you guys are smart enough to have tried everything in your Victorian
>> sorry, Piltoverian
> wheelhouse.
> Is that what your "adaptive matrix" was designed for?

[techmaturgy]

Piltovan, but yes. The medical care available here is roughly equivalent to what's available back home, though topside doctors rarely concerned themselves with Undercity ailments.

The Hexcore is designed to fulfill any number of purposes, hence "adaptive". Replicating healing magic, which is so rare as to be legendary, is one of its potential uses.

[industries]

> "Piltovan" sounds like something you'd take for acid reflux.
> But okay.
> Okay, that's

[ What would modern medicine have to say, Tony wonders? He's – okay in that area, but it's not his strongest, especially without the non-invasive body scans and AI-sourced medical databases that he generally relies on. There's the Tower, but the scan itself would be just as unreliable as whatever physical projection Viktor subconsciously manifests, and–

There's also the magic angle to consider. Which, sure, probably just boils down to extreme antimatter mechanics at its core, but Tony doesn't exactly have a background in the practical use of it, and definitely not enough to diagnose someone if they were suffering from it.

So. If there was someone who could help, someone whose resumé absolutely, perfectly fit the bill, it'd probably be – a brilliant MD with surgical skills who also casts spells for their day job. ]

>

[ Oh, for f– ]

> So there's this guy I know
> in Thorne.

[techmaturgy]

Jayce has been learning healing magic. It's good for pain relief, and we have reason to believe it's slowing the deterioration, but it's not a permanent solution.

[Give him a second, just putting together some context clues.]

Stephen Strange?

[industries]

> how did you know

[techmaturgy]

Steve mentioned him as one of your number--the only one in Thorne.